How long does it take to join?

[Anonymous]

Hi! First of all, I want to say that this website is truely great and it's been a great help for me so far. I'm thinking about joining the canadian army as an officer (I'll finish University in April) and I would like to know how long is the process from talking to a recruiter to starting bootcamp. I'm asking that because I've been told it could takes a lot of months or even a few years (!?!?!!) but that was for the american army. What about the canadian one? The job I'm looking forwark to is either logistic officer or a surface operations officer in the navy............. And do logistics officers work inside or outside most of the time?

earth_citizen@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

: Hi! First of all, I want to say that this website is truely great and it's
: been a great help for me so far. I'm thinking about joining the canadian
: army as an officer (I'll finish University in April) and I would like to
: know how long is the process from talking to a recruiter to starting
: bootcamp. I'm asking that because I've been told it could takes a lot of
: months or even a few years (!?!?!!) but that was for the american army.
: What about the canadian one? The job I'm looking forwark to is either
: logistic officer or a surface operations officer in the navy.............
: And do logistics officers work inside or outside most of the time?


Hi. I've just gone through all of this so I think I can answer your questions. The application process can take a long time or no time at all, depending on what you are applying for. There are more non-commissioned occupations (they call them MOCs, for Military Occupation Code) so they tend to take more people more often. They accept applications for most MOCs for a few months, so if you happen to bring yours in at the beginning of that period you will feel like you are waiting ages, but if you bring it in towards the cut-off date, they might call you that same week. Officer positions are a little longer. Instead of your local recriting centre doing the hiring, your application will go to the officer selection board in Ottawa. As far as I know they only meet about twice a year, so you could easily have to wait 6 months to find out if you're in or not. If you don't get in the first time around you can re-submit your application for the next selection 12 months later (they give you one year so that you'll have enough time to beef up your application with whatever will make you more competitive, like job or leadership experience). When you have your interview they will tell you what the time frame will be so at least you will know when you can expect to get the news. When you drop off your application, here's what you can expect: they will phone within a few weeks to confirm your application (and exactly what you're applying for, in order of preference if you put more than one, etc) and set up your tests. There's an aptitude test, a fitness test, a medical, and an interview. When you pass all of that they will send your application to the selection board (since you're applying for officer) and then you wait. Ask the recruiter what's open (but put down what you want even if they say it's closed because they change all the time and you never know). They always need a lot of new MARS officers but they took a lot of people for logistics this fall so they might not hire any more for a while. Both require some math credits and logistics is especially tough to get into unless you are getting a business degree (or, in the case of food logistics, nutrition). They also look for a lot of leadership and volunteer experience. Logistics officers usually work on bases, but can end up anywhere if deployed, then you'd be living like all of your fellow soldiers (i.e. outside). If you haven't yet, go to a recruiting office and ask to watch the videos -- they have one for each MOC to tell you about the job. I hope that helps, if you have any more questions post em up!

[Anonymous]

hi
i am applying for the bioscience officer position and have a pitfall:
they say that the international security check could take up to 2 years! and since i have been working and volunteering abroad (england, korea, nepal), does this mean that i should just get on with my life (other prospects) instead of waiting around for the application to get through?

also, do they look more at your marks or experiences?

thanks kindly

[Anonymous]

I'll answer your last question first.

When it comes to experience, it is the type (rather than the amount) that's important. You need to convince them that you have the potential to be a good officer, and officers are primarily leaders and managers. If you don't have much experience (either in paid work or as a volunteer) in the areas of leadership and management then you should go out of your way to obtain it to show that you really want to become an officer.

Good marks are important too, especially when they have more candidates than openings. Then, if all other things are equal, they'll probably give preference to the one(s) with the best academic background(s).

One is not more important than the other. What you need is a good balance between the two.

Getting on with your life (other prospects) instead of waiting around for your application to go through is something that only you can decide, and I wonder why it has to be one or the other? If you are serious about the Canadian Forces, why don't you apply and see what happens? If you change your mind, you won't be under any obligation to follow through. But if you sit back and do nothing, then you will have lost 2 years if other prospects don't work out.

[Unregistered]

How long does it take to go to college to be in the millitary? i just wanted to know ,k.